Ruto Appoints Ida Odinga Ambassador as Fresh Changes Made in Govt

President William Ruto has officially appointed Ida Betty Odinga as Ambassador and Permanent Representative in the Foreign Service of the Republic of Kenya.

The appointment was made through a gazette notice dated February 27, 2026, which also contained several other government appointments.

Ida Odinga was nominated for the position following the death of her husband, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Her nomination sparked mixed reactions from the public and political leaders, but she later accepted the role.

During her vetting before Parliament, she disclosed that her net worth was approximately Sh500 million.

In the same notice, President Ruto appointed Francis Meja as Chairperson of the Public Service Commission for a term of six years.

Separately, Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi appointed Abdi Ali Mohamed as Member and Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Retirement Benefits Authority for a period of three years.

Health Cabinet Secretary Eden Duale appointed Kipkoech Geoffrey, Joseph Macharia Wachira, Shadrack M. Asena, Pauline Sirote Korere, Abdirahman Noor Mohamed and Salma Mohamed Abdi as Members of the Board of Directors of the Clinical Officers Council of Kenya for three years.

Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui appointed Francis Kuria Karu, Grace Nyabonyi Momanyi and Stephen Kipkosgei Yego as Members of the National Standards Council.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe appointed Joseph Kiplangat Too, Frederick North-Coombes, Kizito Wangalwa and Vasey N. Mwaja as Members of the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute.

Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya appointed Fatma Bakari Barayan as Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

Meanwhile, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Muriithi Muuga appointed Isack Abduba Fayo as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Northern Water Works Development Agency.